Globe staff photos of the week, Dec. 23, 2011

Zach Donahue, a graduate student from Medford, sat in his beach chair as he used electrical resistance to test the water content of the sand at Revere Beach in a project for his geophysics class at Boston College.
John Blanding/Globe Staff

Globe staff photos of the week, Dec. 23, 2011

Nathan Cariker, 6, of Attleboro was delighted by a Rudolph reindeer nose given to him by andrew Ference as members of the Boston Bruins visited with pediatric patients at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.

John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Rabbi Rachmiel Lieberman (left) of Congregation Lubavitch Synagogue and Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo took part in the ceremonial lighting of the menorah inside Nurses Hall at the State House in Boston.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

A large ornament on the Christmas tree at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace reflected passersby and surrounding buildings.

John Tlumacki /Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Tanya Ianniello, 32, of the Fenway checked up on her 16-day-old daughter, Ruby, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Paratroopers from the Second Brigade, 82d Airborne Division took a break during their long drive as US troops departed Iraq and the war was declared over.

Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Zach Donahue, a graduate student from Medford, sat in his beach chair as he used electrical resistance to test the water content of the sand at Revere Beach in a project for his geophysics class at Boston College.

John Blanding/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

A Bruins fan was excited after he caught a puck that sailed into the stands at TD Garden.

Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Tom Cahill (28) of Pembroke took Shane Flaherty (16) of Silver Lake to the ice during a game at Hobomock Arena in Pembroke.

Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett reacted to the Celtics bench play during a pre-season game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden.

Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| December 23, 2011

Ryan Anderson (center) of Boston College battled with Sacred Heart players Justin Swidowski (left) and Phil Gaetano for a second half loose ball at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill.